Supreme Court to be a court of record
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 129 (Supreme Court to be a court of record): Defines the jurisdiction, judicial independence, and appellate powers of the Supreme Court of India.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 129 ('Supreme Court to be a court of record') belongs to Part V, Chapter IV (The Union Judiciary). It defines the institutional architecture and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India—covering judicial appointments, salaries, Court of Record status (contempt power), original federal disputes (Art 131), constitutional/civil/criminal appeals (Arts 132–136), review of judgments (Art 137), or binding precedents (Art 141). Specifically: The Supreme Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself.
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 129): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Supreme Court to be a court of record' under Part V
Sets a direct, self-contained constitutional command binding on public authorities across India
Backed by independent judicial oversight of the Supreme Court to protect constitutional legality
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
Supreme Court powers are exercised by independent Benches according to constitutional rules and judicial discipline, insulated from political interference.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Makes the Supreme Court the ultimate guardian of the Constitution and the final court of appeal for every citizen seeking justice.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates: